The funeral for Taini Morrison saw more than 1000 people pack the grounds of Te Papa i o Uuru marae as mourners from all over the country paid their last respects to the kapa haka legend.
Hannah Merenia Morrison, better known as Taini, died suddenly on Monday from a suspected heart condition. She was 51.
Ms Morrison was best known as the female leader of champion kapa haka group Te Mataarae-i-o-Rehu. She was also the Ngati Whakaue Enrichment Unit teacher at Rotorua Primary School.
The service for Ms Morrison was led by St Faith's Anglican priest Tom Poata.
Family and close friends filled the small chapel on the shores of Lake Rotorua while more than 1000 people listened intently outside.
Her brother, Temuera Morrison, and uncle, Sir Howard Morrison, were also at the service along with Rotorua-born Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis.
Ms Morrison's eldest sister, Zela Gilbert, told how Taini got her name. It started as tiny, with a y, but as she got older and more involved with kapa haka it got changed to Taini.
"When she was born she was the smallest baby they had ever seen. She was born with blonde hair and fair skin, from birth she was unique, but as children we did not notice."
Mrs Gilbert said she remembered her sister trying to dye her hair black so she could be in the front row of the kapa haka group she was in.
"There weren't too many blondes doing kapa haka then," she said.
She was also farewelled by her son, Te Wharekotua, and daughter Miriama.
Together they shared memories of how their mother used to have nicknames for everyone and sang a few of the lullabies she used to make up and sing to them as children.
"I have always been a mummy's boy ... mum was super woman to me and the fact that she has gone - I am still in shock, but I'm coping," he said.
At the end of the service, her body was driven past Rotorua Primary School before being taken to Kauae Cemetery near Ngongotaha for burial, all the time accompanied by song and haka performed by her kapa haka group.
Morrison family spokesman Monty Morrison said the family were deeply humbled and honoured by the presence of so many people at her funeral.
Rotorua deputy mayor and Ms Morrison's uncle Trevor Maxwell said it was an absolutely beautiful service.
"The tributes and accolades made by everyone have been wonderful," Mr Maxwell said. Ms Morrison is survived by her husband Daff Hare, their two children and three grandchildren.
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TAINI'S MOTTO Every whanau needs memories to remind them of the happiness they have shared in the past. Every whanau needs dreams to help them grow in the future. Every whanau needs love to keep them together forever. We need to all remember how blessed we are to have each other as whanau.
Rotorua farewells Taini
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